JOE
SIMKO is a custom artist/cartoonist based in New York. He works
with local and national rock bands, (Such as Murphy’s Law, GWAR,
Trivium, Sonic Youth, and many others.) providing designs for albums,
t-shirts, and tour posters. In 2006, he was the official illustrator for
the largest traveling alternative punk rock music festival, the Vans Warped
Tour. Currently Simko is the sole art manager/designer for Japan’s
yearly large-scale rock music festival, Magma.

Simko's
art is composed of a few very distinct styles. His paintings can be best
described as a stylized blend of bright Saturday morning cartoon form
meshed with twistedly eccentric subject matters. His earlier works included
laboriously detailed abstract expressionist brush and ink works, and some
of his work takes on a more traditional pen and ink indie comic book style.
Often hiding subliminal undertones throughout his pieces, there is always
something new to notice upon multiple viewing of Simko’s artwork.

Simko
has illustration work printed in Spin Magazine, Revolver Magazine, Alternative
Press, Skinnie Magazine, and has been published in such books as The Art
of Modern Rock, AOMR mini A-Z, The Art of Electric Frankenstein, Roller
Derby Art, EF Poster Book Vol. 1, and A Fistfull of Rock and Roll. Articles
reviewing his work have appeared in AP Magazine, Skinnie Magazine, Blood
and Thunder, and the NY Waste. He is currently involved with Topps creating
art for the new Garbage Pail Kids Flasback series (launching Feb. 2010)
and art for an all new Wacky Packages series.

Schiffer
Books will be publishing Simko’s first suspiciously twisted and
slightly dark edged children’s book aptly entitled “The Sweet
Rot” for national distribution in Spring of 2010. The book is written
and illustrated by Simko himself.